Nearly 22 000 civilians have been evacuated from Kharkiv region in 6 months

"We are continuing evacuation efforts, getting both children and adults to safety," Syniehubov said.

Kharkiv Oblast has endured constant Russian attacks for more than two and a half years, since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Syniehubov noted that among the most attacked areas are the Volchansk direction in Chuguevskaya Oblast, the Liptsy region and the Kupyansk direction. The town of Kupyansk was briefly captured by Russian forces in 2022 before being recaptured by Ukrainian forces. Its strategic value lies in its position as a key logistical and transport hub, with several major highways and 5 railway lines converging in the city.

The Governor added that humanitarian aid, psychological support and financial assistance were being provided to evacuees in relatively safe areas, including the city of Kharkiv, located less than 30 km from the Russian border. | BGNES